Hello everyone.
More "confused" questions I am afraid.
1. If the table says that I can run a non decoder equipped loco does this mean that I can run all my existing fleet chipping only those locos that I wish and using the DCC controller as an analogue controller for those non chipped locos? I guess that the fixed DCC track voltage would cease to exist when a non DCC loco was being controlled. This would mean that I could only have one loco controlled at once if a non chipped loco was involved and non chipped locos would need isolating before a DCC equipped loco could run. Correct????????
2. Advance consists. I understand the idea but cannot see this as a base station only problem. I would have thought that recognising consists in this way was more a loco decoder problem than a base station issue. Surely it is the loco that has to recognise the consist number & the controller sends out commands to the consist as a whole with each loco recognising individually that it is part of that consist. The difficult bit is thus in the loco not the base station. What have I missed?
3. Communications BUS. Er yes. Do I really care as long as there is one? Seriously I would like to understand why I should care & why one is the best although I am sure it is not that simple!
4. A computer interface sounds like a wondeful way to get even more confused. I know that ultimately I could let my computer run my railway for me but is this interface of any other use with systems as supplied? Do I need lots of extra - & probably expensive - software to make it useful?
5. Does buying one brand of base station initially bind me to that make for the future? Do accessory controllers, & all the other bits - other than handsets- transfer between base station makes if I wish to change later? It will be a lot less scary if changing base station makes is problem free in a rather fast changing aspect of modelling.
If you have had the patience to get this far then I thank you. If you reply I will be really grateful!
Chris
More "confused" questions I am afraid.
1. If the table says that I can run a non decoder equipped loco does this mean that I can run all my existing fleet chipping only those locos that I wish and using the DCC controller as an analogue controller for those non chipped locos? I guess that the fixed DCC track voltage would cease to exist when a non DCC loco was being controlled. This would mean that I could only have one loco controlled at once if a non chipped loco was involved and non chipped locos would need isolating before a DCC equipped loco could run. Correct????????
2. Advance consists. I understand the idea but cannot see this as a base station only problem. I would have thought that recognising consists in this way was more a loco decoder problem than a base station issue. Surely it is the loco that has to recognise the consist number & the controller sends out commands to the consist as a whole with each loco recognising individually that it is part of that consist. The difficult bit is thus in the loco not the base station. What have I missed?
3. Communications BUS. Er yes. Do I really care as long as there is one? Seriously I would like to understand why I should care & why one is the best although I am sure it is not that simple!
4. A computer interface sounds like a wondeful way to get even more confused. I know that ultimately I could let my computer run my railway for me but is this interface of any other use with systems as supplied? Do I need lots of extra - & probably expensive - software to make it useful?
5. Does buying one brand of base station initially bind me to that make for the future? Do accessory controllers, & all the other bits - other than handsets- transfer between base station makes if I wish to change later? It will be a lot less scary if changing base station makes is problem free in a rather fast changing aspect of modelling.
If you have had the patience to get this far then I thank you. If you reply I will be really grateful!
Chris
